He was the Prime Minister of Finland 1987–1991,[2] president of the UN General Assembly 2000–2001 and headed the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 2003 to 2004 (leaving the position in the summer of the second year because of health issues).

[4] On 1 July 1991 he made the world's first official GSM call, to Kaarina Suonio, vice mayor of the city of Tampere.

[7] In his last years, Holkeri resided in Kruununhaka, Helsinki, where on a November day in 2008 he was walking outside a grocery store, when a robber tackled him while fleeing.

[11] Holkeri was awarded the highest Finnish honorary title of Counselor of State in 1998 by the President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari.

Holkeri's efforts in Northern Ireland were rewarded with an honorary KBE from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.